Analysis
Epidemic: Cholera continues to reap harvest across Nigeria
The cholera epidemic in the country, which was declared on June 15, 2024, has gone on to claim a total of 103 lives out of the 3,623 cases recorded so far in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The epidemic affected states are Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Ebonyi, Katsina and Zamfara.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) announced the new casualty figure at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, on July 16, 2024.
The figure given is inclusive of 187 local government areas, with a cumulative case fatality rate of 2.8 per cent since the beginning of the year.
Cholera
Cholera is an infection caused by a bacteria known as Vibrio cholerae.
The disease affects the small intestine and can lead to severe diarrhea and dehydration.
Below are some key points about the epidemic:
- Transmission: Cholera is typically spread through contaminated food or water.
- Symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and dehydration.
- Treatment: Rehydration with oral rehydration therapy (ORT) or intravenous fluids, antibiotics.
- Prevention: Proper sanitation, hygiene, vaccination.
- Global impact: Cholera is a significant public health concern, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and during humanitarian crises.
- History: Cholera has caused several pandemics throughout history, with the first recorded outbreak in 1817.
- Mortality rate: If left untreated, cholera can have a high mortality rate (up to 50%); with proper treatment, the mortality rate is less than 1%.
The NCDC conference was aimed at providing an update on the ongoing cholera outbreak situation in Nigeria.
This included the prevention and response efforts at the national and sub-national levels, as well as some other epidemic-prone diseases, especially known to be on the rise during rainy seasons.
What NCDC says
Director General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, who spoke at the event, stated that the main age affected by the epidemic is five years old.
He also said that males account for 52 per cent of cases and females account for the rest.
Furthermore, there was a 5.6% decline in the number of cases in this reporting week (8th -14th July) as compared to the preceding week.
It was also recorded that there was a drop in the case fatality rate from 2.9% to 2.8%.
Historical outbreak data suggests that the peak of the outbreak typically aligns with the peak of the rainy season, which has not yet arrived.
“Although almost all the states in Nigeria have reported cases of cholera, there appears to be an underreporting of the situation as required data from the states are not coming in real-time as expected given the trend in previous years.
“This is largely due to inadequate resources to support surveillance and disease detection activities at the subnational level.
“Additionally, this may likely be further complicated by the effect of a political undertone for reporting cholera, which some see as a stigma or disease proxy indicator for the inability of the affected communities/persons to have access to potable water and other basic amenities of life,” Dr Idris added.
Other diseases prone to epidemic
Idris explained that Nigeria is not only grappling with an ongoing cholera epidemic, but also experiencing a surge in reported cases of other diseases prone to epidemics.
This is including yellow fever, Lassa fever, meningitis, and several others.
“It should be noted, since June 2024, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has been actively responding to the cholera outbreak, which has had a significant impact on the health and well-being of our country.
“NCDC is implementing the national incident action plan for the response, intensifying efforts targeted at supporting states to conduct active case search, optimize laboratory capacity, with prepositioning of cholera management supplies and capacity building in anticipation of possible surge ahead.
“We have our eyes on the ball, as we continue to strengthen case management efforts to sustain the decline in fatality ratio until we report the global target CFR of less than 1 per cent.
“Using the National Cholera Multi-Sectoral Emergency Operations Centre, we continue to lead the coordination, communication, and cooperation of all stakeholders involved in the national response.
“In addition, we have deployed national rapid response teams to the top six states contributing about 83 per cent of cases.”
The affected states
Speaking on the affected states, Idris indicated that about six states are under the scourge.
He continued: “The states are Lagos, Bayelsa, Abia, Ebonyi, Katsina and Zamfara States and plans are in place to deploy to more state, to strengthen surveillance system, improve case management, infection prevention and control and community engagement towards building community resilience.
“We continue to monitor the trends and will escalate the required support as the situation demands,” Idris noted.
He took the opportunity to express his gratitude to all stakeholders, including ministries, departments, agencies, state and local governments.
He also extended his gratitude to local and international partners, healthcare workers, community leaders, and individuals.
Idris commended their tireless contribution to the response efforts and ask they continue to work diligently to combat the outbreak.
How to prevent the cholera epidemic
These following precautions reduce the risk of cholera transmission:
- Use only boiled and safely stored water for drinking, kept in clean and covered containers.
- Practice good hand hygiene by:
- Washing hands frequently with soap under clean running water.
- Using alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and clean water are not available.
- Cook all food thoroughly before consumption.
- Only consume raw food, such as fruits and vegetables, after washing thoroughly with safe water.
- Protect cooked food or boiled water from contamination by flies and unsanitary handling.
- Reheat all leftover food before ingestion.
- Persons with diarrhea should not prepare or serve food or haul water for others.
- Avoid open defecation and indiscriminate refuse dumping.
- Ensure proper disposal of waste and frequent clearing of sewage.
By following these guidelines, individuals can significantly reduce their risk of contracting cholera.
The NCDC urges state governments to prioritize the following actions to ensure a safe and healthy environment for their citizens:
- Improve access to safe and clean water sources
- Promote basic sanitation infrastructure and services
- Encourage proper hygiene practices in communities
By prioritizing these actions, state governments can reduce the risk of waterborne diseases and promote a healthier environment for their citizens.
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